Agitator for milk-tanks and the like.



u. 11. 11001). AGITATOR FOR MILK TANKS AND THE LIKE).

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 30, 1913.

Patented Sept. 22, 1914.

Jam/67772707": Chg/7&5 V FY L UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. HOOD, OF'SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB '10 H. HOOD & SONS, OF CHARLESTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS, A OOBIORATION OF II IIASSACHUSETTS;

AGITATOR FOR MILK-TANKS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 22, 1914.

Application filed December 30, 1913. Serial No. 809,491

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. Hooo, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Somerville, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Agitators for Milk-Tanks and the like, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like figures on the drawings representing like parts.

My present invention is an improved type of apparatus for use in maintaining the material within a tank, particularly milk, cream. and the like, suitably agitated to insure a careful mixing of the contents, and a uniformity of the same as drawn off.

In milkdepots where a large number of cans of milk are being constantly poured into a receptacle, and drawn off from the bottom of the receptacle, it is highly important to keep the contents in motion and insure the thorough mixing of the milk contained Within the reservoir. The milk is usually drawn off from such reservoir near the bottom, and consequently if no method of keeping the contents properly agitated was provided, the constant tendency would be for the-butter fat or cream to rise to the top, being of a different specific gravity from skim milk, while the latter part would be cream, with varying degrees of difference between the top and bottom. As the level of the milk in such a reservoir is constantly being varied by the pouring in and drawing oil of the contents, it has heretofore been diflicult to keep the contents of such a reservoir in constant agitation, except by slow and laborious hand work. A further difiiculty is that much agitation will cause air to mix into the contents, which is undesirable. Former mechanical devices have also been unsatisfactory, as no allowance was made for the constantly varying levelof the contents of the tank. 7

I have discovered that the best results are obtained by having a slowly -moving agitating device at substantially a predetermined level below the surface of the milk contained in the reservoir, and as this level is constantly varied, I have provided means to permit the agitating blades of the apparatus to follow the level of milk in the reservoir. I also find it to be advantageous to have the apparatus adjusted for different depths be low the levels of different grades of milk, and accordin l y in the present invention I have provide means for this adjustment.

An important advantage of the present a paratus is that it can be employed in hand ing milk which has been pasteurized, where the greatest care is requisite, and where any.

stirring by hand is objectionable.

.Other features of the invention, novel combinations of parts, and details of construction will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, Figure 1 is a general view of my apparatus, as applied to a reservoir, the sides of the latter being shown in conventional form,

and in cross section; and Fig. 2 is a detail f view, partly in cross section, of the actuating apparatus to permit location of the stirring blades while allowing them to be raised orlowered to follow the varying level of the contents in the reservoir.

A tank or reservoir is indicated at 1 to which is aflixed a bracket 2 by means of sup-.

ports 3 and 4, bolted to the sides of the tank at 5 and 6. This bracket carries a support 7 having upstanding arms 8 providedwith journal bearings 9 adapted to receive theshaft 10, which shaft will be rotated by a pulley, gears, or any other suitable means of afi'ording'power (not shown). The shaftld has keyed thereon, between the bearings in the arm 8, a worm 11, which is arranged to,

mesh with a gear 12 fixed on a shaft 13, substantially at right angles .to the shaft: 10, and having one end extending into the tank 1, and carrying the stirring blades-14 with; its other end extending beyond the shaft 9,,

and carrying a counterweight 15. To. supportathe shaft 13 and permit it to be oscillated about the shaft 9, as well as to hold, the worm 11 and gear 12 in mesh, I provide voir 1. In order to prevent any oil, grease, or the like from running down the shaft 13, a cup-18,is provided, and toarrange for holding the shaft 13 in a fixed'position, a

5 plurality of holes 19 are provided in the member 16, through which a pin may be fitted tohold; the member 16 against rotation around the shaft 10, as will be readily nunderstood, said pin spanning the arms 8 and 10 bearing thereagainst.

1 In order to llow the to be. maintained at a substantially predetermined "de th below thelevl, 20 of the contents 'int- 'e reservoir 1,"I provide a float 2 1'"of"'sufiicient buoyancy'fto insnrethe' 0sdilation of the shaft 13 as the level rises or falls. This float. is preferably of metal and with aflhollow tube"22 therethr ough, said tube oomprisihj'gja' bearing for the shaft $0 13'. The float 21 .is 'c1amped'=t0 the she-n13 in any desired longitudinal position f-by a split clamp 23 secured'by bolts 24 and 25,

orby a setscrew, or many other fwellknown' arineri' The depth which it is desired to Q5 maintain the blades14"belowthe'level 20 maybe determined Ieither'by adjusting the float 21Iongitudinallyon the shaft 13, or v e' "varied to a. limited extent'by' shift-' connterweight15." oration "0f the power 'shaft'9 will'act to corms ondingly rotate the shaft 13-and stirring';-ladesf14- at any speed "found desirable fof'th'e particular work involved, the fioat.21 and co nterweight '15 acting ofscillatethe' shaft: 13 [as the level :20 within the tank- 1 'rises or falls during the" cpntinuous filling of the reservoir'from cans,

arid {the drawing ofiof the" contents. As" thi s""workl usually involves unloading milk' 40 inlarge quantities, ac'arload at a time, and

dravving foil "the milk from thetank into sterilizers and. apparatus for fillmg'bottles, dri'sinall iiiilk cans,'it will be seen thatw the neizes'sity f bl constantly, mixing the contents 46 of; the tank 1 a)" maintain the same a- Substaiitially' :uni form product, as well a'sipreventing the cream from separating, and

also preventing" air froiii'j being mixed 1n;

contents, or stirring "the "milk so. fast 50 as to produce butter, isofgifeatimportanoe.

It; l w'ill be seen that my apparatus aecomglishes ithis Iwork in a, thoroii g'hly sterile fanner, and withta'minimui riof mechani-i cal partsi The "a dfustments provided en- 66 able just the "right; depth" for the blades 14 to 'be" determined, and .'to keep the same at s'aiddepth below the level; irrespective stirring" blades 14 name to "this 's claim as new and desire to secure by Letters .Patent is:

1. Apparatus of the kind described for agitating milk or the like contained within reservoirs, comprising meansto stir the contents of the reservoir at a substantially predetermined depth below the level of said contents, said" stirring means being auto mati-cally raised and lowered as the level of said contents is'raised and lowered.

2. 'Appara'tus' of the kind described for agitating milk, or the like contained within reservoirs, comprising 1 means "including a float supported in the contents to stir the contents of the reservoir at'a substantially predetermined depth below the level of said contents, irrespective of the variation in level of the contents;

3."Apparatus'of the-kind described for agitating, milk "or the'ilike ob'ntained'within reservoirs, comprising-means to agitate the contents of a reservoirat a substantially predetermined depth below' the'surface, said means including a resting shaft extending into said tank atan 'angle, and mechanism to permit said shaft to oscillate with the varying level 'of said contents;-

; 4. Apparatus of 'the 'kind described for agitating milk or the' like contained within reservoirs, comprising a driving shaft outside the tank, a 'driven' "shaft arranged substantiall'y at right -angles :to said driving shaft, and ektendingat an angle intosaid tank, agitating means on the mner end of the driven, shaft,'--ai lloat to supportthe driven shaft, and meanspermitting said shaft to oscillate onthe-driving shaft dur ing rotationof' bothshafts-tolcause said stirring means toremain a predetermined depth below the level of the contents during the variation of saidleveli I In testimony whereof-,1 have 'gned-my cification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' CHARLES H. noon.

Witnesses:

' FRANK W. NAY, I, GEORGE VQSPIKI 

